Tondo residents demand amends

Tondo residents demand amends

PALU, Southeast Sulawesi: Tondo subdistrict residents are
threatening to block the main road leading to Tadulako University
unless they receive adequate compensation for land appropriated
from them 16 years ago.

The disputed 250-hectare tract of land was used as the site of
the university.

Community elders led a delegation of about 100 residents to
present their demands to provincial legislators here.

Tondo community leader Djenman Lingulemba said the land was
taken away from them by force through Gubernatorial Decree No.
109/AL.012/XI/1981.

He added that no compensation was given to residents who had
been working and living on the land for years.

He said formal channels pursued to resolve the matter amicably
had failed.

"We've really had enough and we're all tired of trying," he
said as quoted by Antara.

"If in a week we don't get any compensation for the land which
was forcefully taken away from us, we will close down the main
road, including the main gate," he warned.

No specific amount was mentioned on how much the residents
wanted for compensation.